Adopted 4 May 1926 for Geological Survey sheet 199A, Britannia Beach, as identified on 1901 survey plans for Lot 1633 (Field Book 747/01 ph 15), and as labelled on BC map 2B, 1914.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

After trapper Oliver Furry ( - 1905), who took up prospecting, discovered copper in the area and in 1898 staked 7 claims that became the original Britannia group of claims. The claims were sold later that year by Furry & his associates to Leo Boscowitz for $10,000, later re-sold to the Britannia Copper Syndicate (GSC memoir 158, Britannia Beach Map Area, 1929, p.70).

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

"... Oliver Furry, illiterate trapper....had a cabin on McNab Creek. In 1898 he went into association with W.A. Clark to stake the first 5 claims of Britannia, thence into partnership with Leo Boscowitz, from which partnership documents indicate Furry was to receive a non-assessable 50% interest in the claims. The document was signed with a rubber stamp "Boscowitz and Sons". The Boscowitz family subsequently attempted to limit Furry's interest, producing an unsigned document that reduced Furry's interest from 50% to 20%. A lawsuit developed and it became clear that Oliver Furry had a limited understanding of these financial arrangements, and was easily confused. In 1905 Furry was committed to the Essondale Home for the Insane, and died there later that year. Ira Furry, representing his deceased brother, with Joseph Martin KC as legal council, appealed the decision of a lower court to the Supreme Court of Canada: the rubber stamp was legal, but the unsigned document was not, hence Furry retained a 50% interest in the Britannia Copper Syndicate. (additional information in The Coast News 20 January 1955, "Furry Creek Has its Past"; and in "Britannia: The Story of a Mine" by Bruce Ramsey, Agency Press, Vancouver 1967).

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Traditional name Sy-its, visted 21 May 1890 by A.P. Horne, Robert M. Fripp, Henry Mackay and their Squamish guides Capilano Joe and Joe, on their journey to discover the source of Capilano Creek. (Vancouver City Archives)

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office